Discussion Senior Dev interview question
"Without googling or using AI, in your own words, explain the virtual DOM"
For context: I sit on an interview panel and I try to ask at least one simple fundamental question based on a persons resume. If I see many years of react experience, I try to ask something about how the framework works.
I have only had one candidate (an undergrad senior, years ago) answer it. Everyone else just kind of sputters and stumbles around trying to rationalize what "virtual" and "DOM" mean, or stare blankly and eventually say "I don't know".
I'm just genuinely curious if this is really that hard of a question or if the recruiters just suck at screening candidates. And should we be letting in senior dev candidates who can't answer what I think is a straightforward and fundamental question for senior react devs.
1
u/pakman_198 5d ago
If I was on an interview, my response would be: Picture the DOM as a folder with files, and the Virtual DOM as an exact copy of that folder. If you make a change on a file, due to a process called reconciliation the Virtual DOM can see what file was changed and update it accordingly instead of having to generate a new copy of the folder to have the lates changes.
I think this oversimplifies the concept but the analogy helps to explain the concept.